and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society. 95 



extending and has probably about 25,000 acres 

 planted. Some in Burma and Mergui : the 

 Phillipines (small as yet), Samoa, Hawaii, and 

 beginning in New Guinea and other Islands, 

 Queonsland and Seychelles. The West Coast 

 of Africa is hard at work with plantations, 

 and more progress has been made in the Congo 

 region and German West Africa, also in British 

 East Africa, Uganda and the West Indies, 

 probably 2,000 acres. Brazil exported in 1907 

 about 41,500 tons against 38,000 tons in 1906, 

 and Manicoba has increased, also Guayule from 

 Mexico which has gone freely into use in 

 America and the Continent. Prices of Guayule 

 are very much lower and quality greatly im- 

 proved, probably 3,000 tons were made. 

 Review or Para Prices for 1907. 

 We began 1907 with price for fine Hard 

 5s 2|d, Soft 5s Ojd, Negrohead scrappy 4s 

 l^d, Cameta 3s l£d, Caucho Ball 4s did. By 

 end of March the latter had declined to 3s 

 7£d, Negrohead 3s lOd, fine hard 4s lid. In 

 June prices were lower again, 4s 7d fine 

 Hard, but there was a large business and 

 activity for American account in July, when 

 Hard sold at 4s lid, Negrohead 3s ll£d, 

 Cameta 3s 2d, Ball 3s 10£d. The market be- 

 came quiet and declined in September to 

 4s 5d, 3s lOd, 2s 7id and 3s 7|d relatively. 

 Prices declined a further 4d per lb. by end of 

 October, and after some recovery, fell 

 seriously in November — Hard fine selling 

 down to 3s 4d, fine Soft 3s, scrappy 2s 8^d, 

 Cameta is lslOJd. Ball 2s 7d. In early December 

 there was a recovery of 4d in fine, 2d per lb. 

 on other qualities, but at the close our quo- 

 tations are lower— fine Hard 3s 5d, Soft 3s 2d, 

 Negrohead scrappy 2s lOd, Cameta 2s0£d, Island 

 (scarce) about 2s, Caucho Ball 2s 9d, showing a 

 fall in value for the 12 months of Is 9£d on 

 Fine, Is l£d on Negrohead. Soft Cure has been 

 •abundant, and during recent months the value 

 recoded from the former difference of 2d on 

 Hard, to 4d, whilst Soft Entrefine has been 

 most difficult of sale at a serious reduction. 



Balata was in regular supply. Sheet advanced 

 to 2s 6|d, but closes at 2s 2£d. Block was up 

 to Is lid, closing at Is 6Jd. Gutta Percha sold 

 siowly during the year at moderate prices. 



WILSON, SMITHETT & CO.'S 

 RUBBER REPORT. 



January 3rd, 1908. 

 India Rubber.— During the fortnight which 

 has elapsed since our last issue, consequent 

 on the Christmas holidays, u quiofc tono has 



prevailed, but quotations for Para close slightly 

 lower for spot at 3s 5d per lb., and for delivery 

 at 3s 5^d to 3 5£d per lb., according to position. 

 The total receipts for 1907, which we print 

 below, show an important increase, but this is 

 wholly accounted for during the first half of 

 the year. 



The London landings last month were 251 

 tons, and 242 tons were delivered, the Liver- 

 pool figures being 1,568 tons and 1,251 tons 

 respectively, including Para kinds 1,006 tons 

 and 725 tons, 



Plantation. — The landings during the month 

 were 94 tons, and deliveries 96 tons. The 

 movements of Plantation sorts during 1907 

 were 1,125 tons landed, compared with 1,016 

 tons delivered. 



1907. 



1906. 



1905. 



1904. 



1902. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Para Receipts, Jan.- 











.1 une 23,435 



19, £00 



19,720 



17,075 



17,600 



Para Receipts, July- 











December 14,230 



14,680 



14,69:i 



13,310 



13,470 



Total 87,665 



34,480 



34,410 



30,386 



31,t70 



Comparative 











value of Para 











31st December 3/5 



5/22 



5/5 



5/1 



3/11 



Stock of all 











growths in Lon- 











don 1,017 



739 



690 



460 



264 



Stock of Plantation 











London 157 



«6 









Imported London 











twelve months 3,674 



2,731 



2,269 



2,088 



1,318 



Delivered London 









twelve months 3,238 



2,570 



2,140 



1,889 



1,321 



Stock all growths 











Liverpool 31st 











December 2,265 



960 



1,029 



860 



1,176 



Stock Para Liver- 











pool 31st Dec. 921 



370 



673 



177 



116 



Ceylon shipments 











1st January to 











9th December 216 



136 



69 



30 



18 



During the first three months of 1907 a firm 

 tone characterised the market. At the opening 

 auctions on 4th January when the quotation for 

 Para was 5s 2£d per lb, first qualities of Planta- 

 tion biscuits and sheet realised 5s 6|d to 5s 7^d 

 per lb. An upward tendency prevailed until 

 the early weeks of March, values of first qua- 

 lities having then advauced to 5s 8d to 5s 9£d 

 per lb. From that time until the end of Novem- 

 ber an almost continuons decline took place 

 with but few slight checks, the lowest price 

 touched for plantation being 3s 8d to 3s lOd 

 per lb in November t while Para had then dec- 

 lined to 3s 5d per lb. A further fall to 3s 3Jd 

 in tho latter quotation was recorded, but no 

 business in Plantation was reported at a lower 

 ligure ; during December a reaction took place 

 and first qualities recovered to 4s Od to 4s 4£d 

 per lb, but at the closing auctions of tho year 

 fell back again to 3s lOd to 3s ll|d in 

 sympathy with para, which hail again declined 



